Books

Heavenly Gossip

Celebrities we love and the scoop about their afterlives.

by Shantel Grace | Mar 16, 2011

Dated

Wed, Mar 18

Quoted

Her book is compelling, and feels much like reading heaven’s version of Us Weekly.

Sylvia Browne / Sylvia Browne is a New York Times bestselling author and a celebrity psychic who will soon be lecturing at the Neal Blaisdell Concert Hall. Her latest book, Afterlives of the Rich and Famous, is making headlines and causing a stir among non-believers. With the help of her spirit guide, “Francine,” Browne converses with celebrities who’ve crossed over–Michael Jackson, Heath Ledger, Farrah Fawcett, John Lennon and Princess Diana, to name a few.

Naturally, there are those who refuse to buy into Browne’s claim that the Other Side is “three feet above our ground level and in another dimension.”

Her book is compelling, and feels much like reading heaven’s version of Us Weekly. Francine, who has been “a resident of the afterlife for over 500 years” writes frankly about celebrities we once loved and those whom we continue to wonder about.

According to Francine, Lennon arrived “angry and disconsolate from the circumstances of his death when he emerged from the tunnel” and wears long robes and slippers and lives in a small house with a huge stereo system.

“Diana is enchanted by the fact that, almost without exception, children and animals don’t return Home through a tunnel when they die, but instead cross a beautiful footbridge,” she writes. “And she has nothing to say about the accident.”

Francine claims that Jackson was greeted by a variety of animals and recalls, “We’ve never seen a spirit more ecstatic to be Home than Michael was when he arrived.”

The book offers a glossary of paranormal terms, which is helpful in experiencing and understanding Francine’s celebrity encounters. “Cocooning.” Browne explains, “is a chamber reserved for those spirits who aren’t able at first to make a peaceful transition from earth to the Other Side.”

“Sadly, Farrah arrived Home depressed and disappointed,” Browne writes. “Not until she was cocooned was she able to experience the sacred bliss of the Other Side.”

Sylvia, how did you decide which celebrities to include in the book?

I had made a list of the celebrities I was interested in, and I went into a trance so that [Francine] could enter my body and speak through me. Strange enough, there was a very famous singer who absolutely refused to talk, but I won’t say who.

I was surprised to read in the Michael Jackson section that immediately after he arrived Home he performed 16 concerts. I would’ve thought that performing would’ve been the last thing on his mind. Or at least that he was, well, sleepy.

Oh no, honey. When you get Home, you get all your energy back. I’ve had two death experiences, and I can tell you, everybody is so full of energy.

In your book you have a section about ghosts. Why are we so fascinated by them?

I think the reasons that ghosts make the headlines is because they make humankind believe there is an afterlife. But really, there are so few ghosts compared to the billions of people who are Home. Everybody can’t be checking into some big imagination ball in the sky. Why would a Hindu and a Buddhist and a Catholic all see the same thing? I can tell you that when you get Home, you meet all your loved ones. For those who love animals, well, they’re there. This is hell, and that is Home.

Do you ever get tired of being a psychic?

I’ve been this way all my life. I was born “normal” and then I got “it.” I come from 300 years of psychics; my grandmother was psychic and she helped me a lot.

And what about growing up in Kansas City, Mo., the Midwest, the Bible Belt? I can only imagine that childhood was a bit complicated as a psychic.

What’s wonderful is that I grew up in the Catholic environment. After a little time, the priests and nuns knew I was psychic. My head didn’t turn around, I didn’t spit out green soup, so they kind of embraced it.

What can people expect at your upcoming lecture at the Blaisdell?

I’m gonna talk about spiritual health and how we can get through these chronic illnesses. Now, I’m not a doctor, but I can scan the body and people don’t realize how many things come back from a past life.

I can imagine that for some people living here in Hawaii, they might be disappointed that your book doesn’t include some of Hawaii’s celebrities; Queen Liliuokalani, Israel Kamakawiwoole, even Don Ho. What would you say if someone asked about their afterlives?

It’s tragic how much the missionaries tore up these relationships and I understand that people would like to know their afterlife stories. I get a lot of these kinds of questions during book signings. I’m able to answer some of them. But I do foresee a sequel to my book.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

This one’s for you honey. Take care of that stomach. Dairy is not your friend.